Federal grant pumps $1.43m into city program

A long-running city program to help people with HIV and AIDS will continue for three more years, thanks to a $1.43 million federal grant.

Harbor Homes Inc. and the Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force will use the money for such things as rental subsidies, case management, good vouchers and others for up to 31chronically homeless households annually living with HIV/AIDS.

The grant from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development is slightly above the $1.3 million given during the past three-year grant period, said Robert Mack, welfare officer with the city.

The grant, under what is known as the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, is one of seven given nationally. Others were in Alabama, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.

Most of this program’s money is distributed by formula to cities and states based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, HUD is making available a record $310 million to help provide housing for the HIV/AIDS population. Resources are expected to assist an estimated 58,000 households annually to promote stable housing arrangements and reduced risks of homelessness.